Home > London > E16 > Royal Oak Royal Oak

Picture source: Stephen Harris

The Royal Oak was situated at 67 Barking Road. This pub was famous for having a boxing gym on the first floor run by boxing manager Terry Lawless. Numerous famous boxers trained there including Frank Bruno and four other world champions. The pub closed after Lawless's retirement in the 1990s and is now an estate agents with flats above.

Colin Price

This pub was first built in around 1848 and rebuilt in the late-nineteenth century.  It is said that the video for Chas & Dave’s megahit, and now karaoke favourite, ‘Rabbit’ was filmed here.  It was a Courage Brewery pub and it closed in 2002.  Despite being a grade-II listed, all but the frontage was demolished, although much Courage signage was saved – unfortunately this has now been covered by rather cruder boards for its current use as an estate agent’s offices.

Stephen Harris (March 2011)

Now used as a Turkish restaurant.

Admin (June 2022)

Listed building details:

Later C 19 : Painted stock brick and stucco. 3 storeys, corner site. Rusticated stucco quoins. Pink and grey granite pilastered ground storey. Pedimented side and corner entrances. Segmental window openings to upper storeys, with stucco surrounds. Pediments to first floor. Bracketed stucco cornice with pedimented central feature. Splayed corner surmounted by pedimented panel with 'Royal Oak' inscribed. Similar, return to Oak Crescent. Wrought iron screen to main entrance. Tiled mural with oak leaves to entrance lobby. Mosaic floor. Interior not seen.

Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here. Like this site? Follow us on Make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.